Some blunt truths about your weight gain & why you struggle with food & fitness

I wanna know if any of these resonated with you like they did with me. 

Youā€™re not alone, Iā€™ve done every single one of these things. 

The difference, if youā€™re still stuck stuck here – I acknowledged my shortcomings & made a decision to rewrite my story. You can too. 

I think the biggest one that struck me hard was:

ā€œIf you gained weight doing things to regain your health, you needed to gain that weight.ā€

We base our worth so often solely on our looks & how skinny we can get.

Because of the society we live in, I understand itā€™s still hard to acknowledge these things & speak openly.

We feel shame around them, especially gaining weight. 

Iā€™m here to tell you youā€™re not alone & everyday you can choose to own your excuses & make a decision to change. 

Effort matters, perfection is not needed.

Remember we were made to be ACTIVE, JOUFUL participants in life.

Love & Hugs 

Oxox

Coach K 

Post with full graphics on Instagram

If you gained weight doing things to regain your health, you needed to gain that weight.

I’m talking about that reverse dieting, more rest, stopping the excessive working out, stopping the constant restriction & scarcity mentality, eating more fat, for some it may mean eating more carbs, maybe it means you stopped isolating yourself & started living again, etc. You can’t live a full life on a chronically empty tank (mentally, physically, emotionally, & spiritually).

You keep diet & program hopping – basically just “winging” &/or over complicating sh*t.

You don’t stay consistent with anything. You think you always have to do what someone else is doing. You allow yourself to get lost in all the info & lose sense of what YOU really need/like to do. You choose unrealistic goals, quick fixes & extremes. You choose a plan yet never prepare or follow through which leads you to continual self sabotage & poor choices. You refuse to track food & activity, therefore, really have no idea what you’re consuming. What gets tracked gets managed. You don’t need to overcomplicate things like meal prep, simple movement, & the basics. Keep it simple & routine: get 10k steps a day, eat nourishing real food, sleep, manage a positive environment & mindset.

You haven’t dealt with your relationship with food, exercise, & body image.

This a biggie y’all. You have to “diet” & LIVE from the inside out. Your relationship with self/food/exercise, your mindset, the energy you put off – ARE EVERYTHING. Thoughts become things & you attract the energy you put out. It doesn’t matter what diet, macros, training program, coach/trainer/practitioner you hire, they won’t work unless you do. The most important work is the inner work. “You must be willing to do the things today others won’t do, in order to have the things tomorrow others won’t have.” Les Brown

You’ve set unrealistic, unsustainable goals you can’t adhere to.

Are you comparing & constantly trying to look like some else who’s life, background, history, health, preferences, etc are NOTHING like yours? ClichĆ© but true – comparison is the thief of joy and we were meant to live this life with JOY. If you have a poor relationship with carbs & they cause negative mental & physical effects, why are you eating them? If you hate meat, why are you trying keto & carnivore? If you hate weightlifting, why are you trying to look like a bodybuilder? If you hate veggies, why are you vegan? If your life is stressed to the titties, why are you trying to diet?

You haven’t taken enough time to heal, educate yourself on how your body works, or gain self awareness for a successful diet.

I used to be a chronic dieter & eating the wrong foods for my specific needs. My body composition reflected that too. I was skinny fat, inflamed, binge eating, performance & recovery sucked – life basically sucked. Learning about your body & how it works & WHY you need to eat & train a certain way will change your life. You should be eating in maintenance the majority of the year, not diet more than 1-2x/yr no longer than 12-16 wks. Most active females, athletes, & avid exercisers should be consuming around 1800-2100+ calories/d for maintenance. You have to BUILD the body first to reveal the physique you want when you lose the body fat. That takes food, rest, & strength training.

You refuse to give up your weekend warrior ways & get real with food consumption & activity.

Just because you didn’t log your food doesn’t mean you didn’t just down a whole pizza, bag of chips, 6 cocktails, or whatever your poison. Same with your steps & workouts, if you didn’t get it in, that falls on you – no one else. Restricting all week & blowing it every weekend is also biting y’all in the tush. Hit your protein & eat enough calories for your health & goals consistently. Get a fitness tracker & track your steps. They are the biggest impact on calories burned throughout the day. If you have gut issues or special dietary needs, own that too. Stop going out & allowing other people or situations to control what you put in your body. You can totally enjoy being social, you simply need to set & stick with healthy boundaries you set for yourself.

You’ve struggled with disordered eating & can’t “feel” true hunger/satiety cues. Not everyone can intuitively eat if you’ve lost you’re intuition.

This one – HUGE. HUGE reason I cringe when I hear people say “Just eat intuitively” or “Just eat as much meat as you want on Carnivore.” Quantity matters. You should be able to distinguish between true physical hunger & emotional hunger/habits. Some of us have lost this ability because of chronic dieting. Your meals should be large enough to keep you full for 3-4+ hrs, & they should be protein centric. You should not be snacking in between meals. Most of us should be eating 30-50g of Protein/meal. We numb emotions with food, we eat too fast, we eat our kids food, we eat in front of the tv, we wire our brains to think these sabotaging habits are normal. You can choose to change those habits & re-write your story.

You’re ignoring your toxic environment.

What you consume, consumes you and what consumes you, controls your life. Our consumption is not only what we eat & drink but also what we watch, listen to, media we consume & environment. If you want to change, become a better version of yourself, become healthier or more successful, you have to change your behaviors & consumptions. Listen to a podcast, motivational speakers, surround yourself with successful, positive minded people – create yourself a new environment. That might mean to break up friendships or a relationship. For me it means constantly learning/changing in order to become a better version of myself.

You’re simply not disciplined enough. It is what it is – you either do or you don’t.

Like Andy Frisella says, ‘Don’t listen to your b*tch voice.” There’s nothing worse than rolling through life in the passenger’s seat. You wake up, go to work, & drift through each day with no direction or driving force. It’s about keeping commitments to yourself & mental toughness. If dieting & obtaining the physique & level of health you desire was an easy task, everyone would do it & be happy. I don’t know about you, but I would rather be a DOer. Goals don’t mean sh*t unless you ACT. Just like knowledge isn’t power unless there’s application. We were made to be ACTIVE participants in life.

Loving your journey. Beauty and Fitness come in all shapes and sizes.

I saw a woman running yesterday. She was red faced, sweating, & workin it! #transformationtuesday

I talk about avoiding labels for a reason. When most people think of a runner, or weightlifter, or whatever ā€œathleteā€ you choose, you automatically think of a specific body type right?

Someone long, lean, & muscular.

This woman didnā€™t fit that description at all. 

I loathe the word ā€œfatā€, because in my opinion,

  1. Rude.
  2. Itā€™s a label & stereotypes someone as being unfit or unhealthy when that may not be the case at all. You donā€™t know their story.

I find all bodies beautiful, especially voluptuous ones. I smile whenever I see someone working out, especially young kids, the elderly, and someone who doesnā€™t fit the stereo typical profile of an ā€œavid exerciserā€ & it motivates me. 

Iā€™ve shared my journey with yā€™all many times. Iā€™ve told you that in high school I was told I was too big to be a cheerleader or an athlete. Truly I couldnā€™t even run around a track once without seeing stars & wanting to pass out. Before CrossFit I had never touched a barbell nor could I do one pull up to save my life.

Fitness, running, health, weight lifting, & fat loss were not things I was genetically gifted or came easily or naturally to me.

Itā€™s something I still have to continue to work at. The difference is I have made it a part of who I am, I choose consistency over excuses, & Iā€™ve learned to love my journey & all the seasons, shapes, sizes, & puzzle pieces that come with.

So a reminder & message  to you, that it abso-f*ckin-lutely doesnā€™t matter how much you weigh, how small or big you are, what diet you choose, whether you eat meat or not, what your story is/has been ā€” fitness & health donā€™t have a size or requirement.

It all starts with a choice to be your best self.

Iā€™m motivated by anyone who gets up & moves. It doesnā€™t matter their skill & it sure as sh*t doesnā€™t matter their size.

Iā€™m most inspired by those who are just starting out in their fitness journey because I know exactly what itā€™s like to start from scratch & have no fuggin idea what youā€™re doin or worried about what people think of you.

Iā€™m not the fastest runner, Iā€™m not the fittest or strongest person, I have cellulite & stretch marks on my thighs, BUT I am strong, I am dedicated, & I love this body that keeps me alive.

So to the woman I saw running, thank you. Youā€™ve inspired me & millions of other humans in the world in more ways than one. 

Because you are the human that chooses to be better & proves beauty & fitness comes in all shapes & sizes.

Oxox Coach K

What to do instead when you feel less than after someone devalues you

ā€œYouā€™re just too big to be a cheerleader, hon.ā€ -cheerleading coach, middle school

ā€œPretty girls are in the front, you fit better in the back.ā€ -a mom, childhood birthday party pictures

ā€œWell, youā€™re just not polished enough.ā€ -recruiter, job fair in college

ā€œIā€™m sorry I cheated, I like you, itā€™s just, she was prettier.ā€

-someone not even worth mentioning herešŸ–•šŸ»

Naturally Iā€™d be lying if a part of me didnā€™t want to tell these people of past chapters of my life they can sxck it. šŸ™…šŸ¼ā€ā™€ļøšŸ¤£ but Iā€™ll take the high roadšŸŒˆ & use it to help yā€™all if youā€™ve ever struggled when someone has devalued you. 

People will teach you how to love well by hurting you. They will teach you how to love yourself by not loving you back. Life will teach you evolution & growth thru pain & stagnation. Pay attention to the wisdom the Universe is trying to teach you. Gold is found sifting thru gravel & diamonds are created under pressure.

Hxll, crispy airfryer meat bars were discovered by me being late to work & literally throwin the shizzle my nizzle in the airfryer basket. Now we canā€™t live without them! šŸ˜†ā™Øļøā¤ļø

In these situations I should have not taken these statements as a reflection of my worth, simply moved on, & not allowed a single encounter to take up so much energy in my heart & taint decades of my being with negativity & shame.

Iā€™m not sharing this for pity, Iā€™m sharing this because I talk to a lot of you who are still choking & drowning on past trauma/shame which are transpiring into every facet of your lives from your relationships to your body to your careers.

This world is made up of a plethora of different people with different priorities with different life situations all 50 shades of fxcked up. 

Youā€™re not alone, the difference is how you react to what life throws at you.

People who have broken my spirit have actually led me to having more empathy, more self worth & appreciation for who I am, & the desire to reach out to all of you because I have felt what a lack of human acknowledgment & compassion can do to a person.

Know that your feelings have a real place, & this life can be so much more beautiful & grander if we let love & optimism fully into our hearts.

Now go enjoy your weekend yā€™all 

Oxox Coach K

Gut Healing: Trigger foods, safe foods, and supplements that transformed my life

Every transformation story has a common denominator ā€” a decision. ā£

ā£Someone decided to make a choice. Often times we donā€™t know what we donā€™t know.

We focus solely on aesthetic indicators of progress instead of things like energy level, happiness, health, healing from within first & that means more than just your gut, it means your shxtty relationship with yourself too.

ā£I chose to find the root cause of my health & life challenges. I chose to research ME & make decisions to embody the person I desired.Ā 

I chose to be self-aware, even when it was painful & downright dirty.

A big thing learned since going meat based with my diet & spending time alone is Iā€™ve lived a huge chunk of my life addicted to addictions.

One biggie ā€” food addiction. I never viewed it as a true ā€œaddictionā€ like drugs & alcohol before ā€” It is.

It was an enormous driver to my demise in every facet of life over my 38 years. It affected my mood, my performance, my relationships, my professional success ā€” ERY thing.

ā£Serious talk – because many of us donā€™t realize we have a problem or understanding of our mind & bodyā€™s needs…

We donā€™t realize weā€™re not moderators, we canā€™t have just 1 chip or cupcake because it leads to self sabotaging. Our habits cause our gut problems, hormone issues, mental & physical state. Which all affect your life goals and ability to lose body fat & gain health.

I used to live to eat. Food controlled every thought ā€” it controlled ME. I used to live for the highs like over exercising & people pleasing. What happens is you lose yourself.

To all of you who message me with heartbreaking emotions of desperation, hopelessness, frustration & confusion ā€” I hear you, I see you.

And hereā€™s what Iā€™ll repeat ā€” every transformation starts with making a decision to choose YOU & not an EXCUSE.ā£

ā£Choose to THRIVE.

ā£WELL FED WOMEN CHANGE THE WORLD.ā£

ā¤ļøšŸŒ»šŸ‘‘šŸ„©šŸ‹šŸ¼ā€ā™€ļøšŸ¦¾ā£

ā£Things I Discovered

My Typical Gut ā€œSafeā€ Foods

šŸ“(I only eat eggs & meat primarily now)

šŸ¤Meats: ground beef & chicken, beef steak, pork chops or loin, chicken without skins, salmon, shrimp, tilapia, any seafood šŸ„©

šŸ¤Eggs & Egg Whites šŸ³ 

šŸ¤White Rice šŸš 

šŸ¤Baked White potatoes without skin (in moderation) šŸ„” 

šŸ¤Rice Chex Cereal & Rice Cakes (in moderation) šŸ„£ 

šŸ¤Lowfodmap veggies: zucchini (without skin, avoid raw), mushrooms, black olives šŸ„’

šŸ¤Ā Real butter (in moderation)Ā šŸ§ˆ

Supplements that help me:

šŸšØALL LINKS & DISCOUNT CODES HEREšŸšØ

šŸ’ŠĀ @nuethix_formulationsĀ 

  • Medipure DS (Protein, Vitamins/Minerals, Liver Detox, Gut Healing)
  • Utilyze (Digestive Enzymes)
  • Nu-Multi (Multivitamin)
  • Flora-Protect (Probiotic)
  • Cort-Eaze (Cortisol Control post workout)
  • Relax Liposomal  (Sleep Aid)

ā˜•ļøĀ @strongcoffeecompanyĀ 

  • Morning Mix (Preworkout, Mental Clarity, Energy)

šŸ’¦Ā @goultima Electrolytes

My Common Gut Triggers:ā£

ā–ŖļøGlutenā£ & Fiber šŸ„–

ā–ŖļøDairyā£ šŸ§€

ā–ŖļøArtificial sweeteners & preservativesā£ šŸ­

ā–ŖļøCarbonated diet drinks with aspartamešŸ„¤

ā–ŖļøCorn & high fiber grains ā£šŸŒ½

ā–ŖļøNuts & seeds, popcorn ā£šŸæ

ā–ŖļøCaffeine (>400mg) & alcoholā£ (>2 drinks)

ā–ŖļøBeer, Wine, sugary cocktails šŸŗ

ā–ŖļøHigh fiber raw veggiesā£, avocado šŸ„•šŸ„‘ 

ā–ŖļøCruciferous veggies šŸ„¦ 

ā–ŖļøFruit with skins or seeds, lettuce šŸ„¬ šŸŽ

ā–ŖļøExcessively large mealsā£ šŸ„˜

ā–ŖļøEating fast, onion/garlic/spicy seasoningšŸ§…

ā–ŖļøSugar free gum & sugar alcohols šŸ¬

ā–ŖļøHigh fodmap, high lectin & oxalate foodšŸ„—

Life Truths and Real Steps to Successful “Dieting”

You know whatā€™s really, powerfully sexy?

  • A sense of humor
  • A taste for adventure
  • A healthy glow
  • Openness
  • Depth
  • Confidence
  • Intelligence
  • Humility
  • Appetite
  • Intuition
  • Ambition
  • Presence

Iā€™d choose the above over abs any day.

You see there are different seasons of life I’ve in catagories:

The Mundane – the everyday “boring” stuff. Routine, chores, work, etc.

The Mess – the chaos, the road blocks, the f*ck ups, the contrast, the things & shadows we don’t like about ourselves.

The Magic – the sweet spots, the little things, the peace, the moments that make your heart sing with joy & make everything else melt away.

We must learn to nurture & love every season with grace. They make us – US.

My body has been all shapes and sizes through the years.

When I first started struggling with body image I was around 8 years old.

I was labeled as the ā€œfatā€ girl and that label stuck with me for years. It paralyzed me from reaching my potential. Total mindf*ck. When youā€™re attached with a powerful label, itā€™s hard to simply pull that label off like a tag on a new pair of leggins. It takes the dirty work to remove.

I’m almost 60lbs lighter now today, after going meat-based with my diet over a year ago to manage my crohn’s. I’m a lot less f*cks lighter too than I was decades ago. Most of all I’m proud to love ALL my seasons, and I know my worth is not based on a number on the scale or my barbell.

My biggest pain point of criticism – I loathed my legs. I hated the way they looked. I hated the way they rubbed together. I hated the cellulite, the stretch marks. I hated the way they jiggled.

I spent years trying to attain slender legs with fasted cardio, strict low fat & low calorie dieting, binging, purging, running and walking often 30,000 steps a day – thatā€™s not a typo.

What did I lose? Not the legs I was trying to get rid of. I lost friends, and memories, my health, and MYSELF along the way.

Here are some life truths I discovered along my journey that I hope can help reframe your life wherever it may be…

1.) You will never become the person you want to be if you donā€™t take care of your body. Do you perform, feel your best, & serve your family at your highest when youā€™re tired, overweight, your gut is a mess, and/or you’re obsessed with food, exercise, & basically hating life? Didnā€™t think so. Invest in yourself, itā€™s not being selfish.

2.) You are the sum of your surroundings. This includes your friends, your work, your hobbies, your food, and what you mentally consume. Are they nourishing you or depleting you on your path to who you want to be?

3.) A wish is not a goal. Make a plan and ACT. THAT is when your dream becomes a goal. You know my MO, you either DO or you DON’T. You wanna be a DOer or a DON’Ter?

4.) The most important relationship you have is with yourself. Noone can make you happy but yourself. If you canā€™t love the reflection in the mirror with tummy rolls, you canā€™t love the reflection with a six-pack. Appreciate your seasons. Losing lbs is not the answer to gaining your happiness. Itā€™s a band-aid.

5.) The beauty is in the mess. Itā€™s ok to try and chase the best version of your life, but if youā€™re constantly dreaming & searching for the perfect life youā€™re never truly living in the now. Youā€™ll be forever unsatisfied.

6.) Rich is in the eye of the beholder. Rich doesnā€™t always mean money or material things. In fact, the most important things arenā€™t seen or felt. Theyā€™re experienced-freedom, peace, pride, laughter, love.

As we grow older, and hopefully wiser, we realize that a $300 or a $30 watch both tell the same time. You will realize that your true inner happiness does not come from the material things of this world. Whether you fly first class or economy, if the plane goes down-you go down with it. -Steve Jobs

7.) The most important food in the world is soul food. You canā€™t pour from an empty cup.

ā€œFind what makes your soul sing with joy & try, as much as you can, to let that happen as often as possible. Listen to the inner-workings of your mind and be honest with yourself when things donā€™t feel right. Leave what doesnā€™t sit well and walk into new relationships, connections, & places with open arms. Forgive yourself for the shortcomings youā€™ve had (or think youā€™ve had) & celebrate where you will go next. And most of all, know that what you have to offer this world is valuable. And noone else can do it.ā€ -Marisa Donnelly

Real Steps to consider for Successful ā€œDietingā€

Everyday I have beautiful women come to me wanting to lose body fat. Absolutely nothing wrong with wanting to see what your body can do. Change is good. Change is energy. We are entitled to see what our bodies can do no matter what season we choose.

The question: have you earned the right to lose body fat and are you mentally ready?

Avoid Common Mistakes:

  • Not being clear about what your goal really is? Do you want to gain muscle or lose fat? Two different things. Two different requirements, one a calorie surplus, one a calorie deficit.
  • Not setting a realistic goal and not being honest about how flexible or strict you want to be. Eating for general health and wellness is more flexible. You can go out with friends and have those occasional cocktails. Cutting for a photo shoot or competition? That means strict diet, training, and minimal “cheats.”

These require different levels of commitment:

  • Not periodizing your nutrition. You should not be ā€œcuttingā€ or ā€œdietingā€ forever. Keep cuts 8-16 weeks MAX, limit to 1-2 times per year. Follow up with 4-6 months of maintenance or surplus calories to upregulate body systems.
  • Automatically assume you need to cut carbs to lose weight. Carnivore, low carb, & keto absolutely have their place. They work wonderful for people who need an insulin reset, an elimination diet, have autoimmune disorders, poor relationships with carbs, etc, but they’re also not “right” for everyone if they don’t suit your needs or preferences. What kind of training are you doing? Are you doing CrossFit, HIIT training, Orange Theory, Bootcamps, marathon training? You may do better utilizing some quantity of carbs in your diet. All of our bodies are different. YOU have to eat for YOU!
  • You think punching numbers in myfitnesspal, an online calculator, or following a template will spit out magic macros to solve all your problems. Do you think a calculator or template cares youā€™ve been surviving on poverty macros, struggle with work stress, travel, kids back talking and getting in trouble at school, gut issues, and canā€™t sleep at night? All affect your mindset, digestion, recovery, relationships with food, relationships with other people, and most importantly yourself. INVEST in a qualified coach! I offer consults every single day, even weekends and holidays for YOU. Inquiry HERE.
These were from a fat loss cut for photo shoot prep. I reversed for 3 months prior and then ate at surplus (2300 calories daily) for 2 months prior to going into my cut. I didn’t have to drop below 1500 calories during my 12 week cut BECAUSE I did my due diligence to heal and recover FIRST.

Truths about Fat Loss:

  • Healthy, nourished bodies lose body fat. Eating 1000 calories a day, surviving on sugar-free jello & lettuce is not a balanced diet, nor a protocol to set you up for a successful fat loss phase. You need to work on yourself for months to get your calories up & your body functioning like a normal human being.
  • All your systems should be in check BEFORE considering diving into a cut: your metabolism, your hormones, your period, your mindset, your stress level.
  • Ladies, your period is like your internal gauge your body is functioning properly. If youā€™re not having a period that is the biggest red flag. Did you know your body can conserve 30,000 cal/year by not having a period. Why? If your body takes away a natural process to conserve energy, thatā€™s called survival because reproducing is not a priority. This also goes for down regulating your metabolism, your thyroid, & your sex hormones.
  • Your metabolism is not one singular thing like your brain or your arm or your liver. Your metabolism encompasses everything itā€™s everywhere. Your brain, your digestive system, your reproductive system – they all contribute. It will adjust to low calories and this is when you plateau. We canā€™t cut you any lower as a coach when you come to us eating 1200 calories a day.
  • Your body will not respond to a cut if you have not properly taken care of it before hand. This could take months or even years. Your body does AMAZING things on the daily. Appreciate it. Itā€™s main priority is keeping you alive & guess what?

Your body gives two f*cks that you want to have abs & look good in a bikini. #REALtalk

I empathize with your frustrations. It took me years to work my calories up to true maintenance, 4 years to be exact. Took me even longer to heal my gut, manage triggers, and most importantly, step into my worth and cultivate a growth mindset.

My door is always open. Feel free to message, dm, or email. I would love to help you on your journey!

If you’re ready, start HERE! šŸ„°

Fitness truths Iā€™ve learned and why you may be gaining weight

Fax Friday. I am really glad I keep LEGACY photos now of my fitness journey.  For decades I wouldā€™ve cringed at the thought of taking a picture of myself. 

Now I use them as a tool to adjust my nutrition protocols for my health & fitness goals. It all comes down with your relationship with things, fam. Change your perspectives!

I want to make the most evidence based progress related changes possible. Because my health fxcking deserves it.

I will continue to harp at all of you to educate yourselves, find mentors, find coaches, people to help you along your health & fitness journey. 

None of us know everything but there are plenty of free resources & awesome people out there to help you make the right decisions when it comes to your goals. 

These cookie cutter programs & templates donā€™t give you the tools to help you make informed choices when youā€™re finished. 

Thatā€™s the point of trying new things & hiring people to help you. We donā€™t want you to need us forever. If you need us forever weā€™re not doing our jobs.

I donā€™t believe in any perfect way of eating ā€” only the perfect way of eating for YOU.

Youā€™ve asked about things Iā€™ve learned through my fitness journey & why you may be gaining weight on low carb.

THINGS IVE LEARNED ALONG MY FITNESS JOURNEY:

šŸ’“ Carbs are not the enemy, your relationship & application of them is what determines their meaning. Higher carbs will give you more energy, help you recover from higher intensity activity, they make your muscles fuller, sometimes an insulin reset is needed for specific symptoms, dis-ease, & seasons. 

Consult with a coach or practitioner beforehand if you donā€™t know what youā€™re doing. 

šŸ’“Higher fat & protein diets keep you more satiated, they keep your energy levels & blood sugar more stable, they will help with insulin resistance, they are not necessary to follow forever.  For some, like myself, they help with digestive symptoms & help you lean out around your stomach as long as your calories match your needs & energy balance. 

šŸ’“ For me, gluten free, dairy free, low fodmap, low lectin, low oxalate, animal based, low fiber work best to control digestive symptoms & my Crohnā€™s. I have worked with a functional medicine doctor to rid myself of SIBO & CANDIDA years ago. Symptoms were much better after undergoing a 12 week protocol. GET TESTED, QUIT GUESSING. Through trial & error & decades of experience I figured out what works best for my body. Which will be different from your body. 

šŸ’“Educate yourselves. Iā€™ve had to adjust my nutrition & training numerous times with specific food choices & workout modalities ā€” itā€™s OK to experiment. Thatā€™s the only way youā€™re going to learn what truly works for YOU. There are no magic sets of macros or diet camps or fasting protocols, etc ā€” theyā€™re all simply tools for your toolbelt & puzzle pieces that will either fit or they donā€™t. Go your own way. 5 things that ALWAYS MATTER no matter what diet youā€™re doing: Your mindset, sleep, simple movement, & the quality & quantity of food you consume.Ā 

REASONS YOU MAY BE GAINING WEIGHT ON CARNIVORE OR LOW CARB:

šŸ„©Youā€™re eating in a surplus. As with ANY diet you choose if you are eating in a surplus chances are you will put on body fat. Itā€™s part of it. This is when you should be focusing on muscle gain & strength.

šŸ„©Youā€™ve been eating in a chronic deficit & your body is finally getting the nutrients it needs to function & grow muscle. You WANT muscle growth. More muscle=more food=more badass. You canā€™t  have the athletic body without building the muscle underneath FIRST. This weight gain is actually weight restoration.

šŸ„©Youā€™re snacking too much on things like pork rinds, fat bombs, or fake keto junk like Atkins bars. Theyā€™re easy to overeat & nutrient deficient. Even no cal artificial sweeteners can trigger hunger, water retention, & over eating. Go back to the basics for a while & experiment. Simplify. Meat, water, coffee, no sweeteners. 

šŸ„©Youā€™re choosing highly palatable meats & foods like ribeyes, bacon, cheese, butter, processed meats, etc. they are delicious, YES, but can trigger over eating when youā€™re not really hungry. Itā€™s like when youā€™re not hungry but then they bring out dessert. Most of us will have that extra piece of cake. Choose foods that are satisfying & get the job done. My choice (FOR ME)  is ground beef & ground chicken cooked in the air fryer. Fuggin delicious & satiating, but not so much Iā€™m triggered to eat more for pleasure & not true hunger. 

šŸ„©Youā€™re overly fasting, overly training, not sleeping, still eating foods you donā€™t digest well, &/or over caffeinating or consuming excess alcohol. All these things are stressors which increases our blood glucose & cortisol level. Chronically high cortisol & hormone imbalances affect your weight, recovery, energy, & fat loss. Reduce your workout intensity & volume, SLEEP, reduce caffeine/alcohol, cut out foods & habits that hinder your digestion, shorten your fasting window or STOP fasting. Get a @nutrisenseio continuous glucose monitor to track blood sugar levels. Itā€™s a wealth of information & will help you more accurately make adjustments!

šŸ„©Youā€™re eating too much protein, throwing hormones & your biofeedback off. Try increasing your fats & start with protein around 1g per lb of LEAN BODY MASS or 20-30% of your daily calories. Our energy sources come from fats & carbs. Play around with it, youā€™ll find your thresholds. Play around with different kinds of meats & macros ratios. Thereā€™s no one-size-fits-all. If in doubt, invest in a coach or practitioner to help!


xoxoxoā€™s yā€™all, happy Friday!

Thereā€™s more behind a picture than a wall

What I do & look like now really doesnā€™t mean jack or offer you as much value than the story that got me here today.

I can give you all the advice on what I practice & preach daily, but you canā€™t replace life experience, feeling emotions, & putting in the work.

I donā€™t know everything & Iā€™m not an expert. But I have lived similar struggles just like all of you & I know what it feels like to sit in a shxt pool of self loathing.

šŸ–¤I was the fat girl. Kids were mean.

šŸ–¤In the 6th grade I was told I was too big to be a cheerleader.

šŸ–¤This oneā€™s for the 14 yr old me that thought rice cakes & sugar free jello were meals & restriction was the only way to be thin & thus loved.

šŸ–¤This oneā€™s for the 16 yr old me that thought skinny & having a boyfriend was all she needed for happiness & worth.

šŸ–¤This oneā€™s for the 18 yr old me that beat herself up for gaining 20lbs in college bc she made memories w/friends. 

šŸ–¤This oneā€™s for the 20 yr old me that binged & purged & let food consume her every thought because she wasnā€™t as pretty or skinny as other sorority girls. 

šŸ–¤This oneā€™s for the 22 yr old me that got married too young, was a people pleaser, & turned to drinking to numb the feelings.

šŸ–¤This oneā€™s for the 28yr old me, divorced, lost, partying, gut issues, & starving bc her body was the only thing she thought she could control.

šŸ–¤This oneā€™s for the 32 yr old me that discovered Crossfit & fell in love with being strong, but let PRā€™s & comparison lead her to overtraining & completely fxckin up her hormones & gut for yrs.

šŸ–¤This oneā€™s for the 36 yr old me struggling to figure out how to date & live in a world as an athlete with Crohnā€™s & special needs.

šŸ–¤This oneā€™s for the 38 yr old me that continues to grow & evolve in a life that constantly changes.

For all the humans who scroll, comparing when they see a beautiful photo, know thereā€™s a story & a lifetime of struggle there too.

What we do now is not a reflection of livin a perfect picture life, itā€™s a reflection of a lifetime of scars which are far from picture perfect ā€”we should wear them proudly.

There is HOPEšŸ’“ 

Link HERE if you need a consultation & pep talk to get back on the right health journey for youšŸ™

All About Gut Health on the Self Transformed Podcast with Emily Nichols!

I donā€™t eat vegetables or fiber.ā£

I eat a šŸ’© ton of meat.ā£

ā£Why?Ā 

It works better for ME & my special digestive needs.ā£ For decades I chased fat loss & performance as a Crossfit Athlete following diets because everybody else was doing it. But I found myself broken, emotionally eating, inflamed, bloated, & unable to lose body fat despite ā€œeating ā€˜cleanā€™ & all the right things.ā€

ā£Honored to have the opportunity to chat with @emilynichols22 on the @selftransformed podcast today! You donā€™t want to miss this episode!

ā£

Had a consult call yesterday with a client struggling to find the right diet. The problem ā€” focusing solely on fat loss & not holistic health first. That includes mindset, gut health, & your relationship with food & exercise.ā£

ā£First thingā€™s first ā€” there is no such thing as a ā€œcleanā€ or ā€œbestā€ diet. This only creates food fear & stress. There are only foods that NOURISH & make you feel GOOD & foods that HINDER you & make you feel CRUMMY. Some of these can be those deemed ā€œhealthyā€ like fruits & vegetables, you just canā€™t break them down & digest them properly.ā£

You may still be having symptoms because:ā €ā£

āŒYou haven’t addressed the root cause. There is a reason for symptoms. Donā€™t put a bandaid on it. My approach is find the root cause & develop a system to fix it. Is it an infection, stress, lifestyle, overtraining, Candida, bacteria, no sleep, too much fiber/too little fiber, not chewing your food, too large of meals, food combos?ā£

āŒYou’re stressed af & not making a change. That gut brain connection isnā€™t bs. It controls many things from mood to energy to digestion. If you canā€™t chill out, your gut canā€™t do its job.ā£

āŒSleep. Rest & digest means just that. If youā€™re always wired, itā€™s hard for the body to adequately rest & digest. It affects theĀ šŸš½Ā too.ā£

āŒHistamine/food intolerance: some lack enzymes to break down specific foods &/or our guts are so inflamed weā€™ve developed an intolerance over time.ā£

āŒStress. Over exercise. Under eating. Malnourishment. Life stress. ALL STRESSORS.ā£

Love yā€™all & Iā€™d love to hear your experiences/feedback below and on the Gram!

Learning how to love your imperfections

Iā€™ve always hated my back. Rarely ever take back progress pictures. I feel partly because I donā€™t want to give a reason for negative thoughts to creep in & pick myself apart when I know I have to love myself for the sum of who I am in my entirety.

Thereā€™s 5 months & 11lbs between these pictures. I love this woman & her season in both pictures. The left is now, the right was on family vacation in October.

Things I used to loathe:

  • My scoliosis – it throws my hips off. My body is not symmetrical, I squat lopsided.
  • My left boob is bigger than my right & neither boob is as big as I would like. Hey thereā€™s at least a handful, Iā€™ve been told thatā€™s all you need right?! šŸ˜‚
  • My elbows donā€™t straighten. I canā€™t fully lock out in any lift which limits my abilities. My CrossFit coaches used to yell at me, not knowing it was a defect.
  • I have stretch marks & cellulite from gaining & losing 50 lbs over my lifetime. I always wanted slender legs, itā€™s just not the way Iā€™m built. But my ham hocks are strong.
  • I have a red sun spot on my nose I have to cover from getting burned as a child on vacation & bailing hay on our farm.
  • I chew on the inside of my lip, still donā€™t know why.

From being the girl who refused to take the T-shirt off at the beach or pool to the woman now brave enough to show the canvas God gave her ā€” hats off to you sis.

Wanted to remind yā€™all you canā€™t hate yourself happy, skinny, strong, successful, worthy, or LOVED.

 Stop putting new energy in old containers.

@jamesclear said, ā€œThe events of your past are fixed. The meaning of your past is not. The influence of every experience is determined by the meaning you assign to it. Assign a more useful meaning to your past & it becomes easier to take a more useful action in the present.”

I put a Post-it on this mirror of a reminder I saw yesterday: ā€œThis Chapter of my life is called: now that I know better, I must do better.ā€

Have a beautiful bootylicious weekend yā€™all!Ā ā¤ļøšŸ‘šŸ¦¾ Iā€™d love to chat with yā€™all on the gram, never hesitate to reach out!

http://www.instagram.com/lil_bit_of_fit

A day in the life: What I learned over 1 year on the carnivore diet

Lotsa carnivore questions today about what a day in the life of this girl looks like. It ainā€™t special yā€™all itā€™s just a routine that works for me. 

Iā€™ll summarize for those who are new around here! Welcome!Ā šŸ„©Ā Ā Bookmark this on Instagram, thereā€™s a lot of info! I also did an interview which is here on my blog that explains all of my transition over my carnivore journey.

ā–«ļøI donā€™t ā€˜treat myselfā€™ or ā€˜cheat.ā€™ Food is not a reward/something to earn. I also dislike saying cheat because it implies itā€™s going to benefit you in some way. Cheaters cheat to win. Do you really think youā€™re winning by cheating yourself?

ā£

ā–«ļøI eat 2 meals/d on avg. My days off or if I can sleep in, I now eat 1 meal. You must experiment. Your experience/needs will be different than mine.ā£ It takes TIME. It took me an entire year to fully adapt &, yes, I gained 15lbs initially.

ā£ā£

ā–«ļøMajority of meals are my Airfryer Crispy meat bars. 85% ground beef, ground chicken. Avg 2lbs of meat/d. Ground meat is easier to digest & track. I removed most pork & dairy, I donā€™t digestā€™em well. I donā€™t add extra fat often. Choose meats that are higher in fat. No I donā€™t like organ meat, I prefer the taste of grain fed over grass fed beef.

ā£ā–«ļøI stick to beef bc itā€™s satisfying & delicious but not SO delicious I want to binge. Food addicts tend to have issues controlling carbs, sugar, sugar free substitutes, keto treats, dairy, butter, cheese, bacon, pork rinds, hyper palatable & processed meats)

ā–«ļøI track macros loosely. It keeps me accountable & I know where to adjust. Rice cakes on occasion post workout or in the evening if I need them, rarely above 50g/day. Macros 10% C – 30% P – 60% F for ME** around 1900-2100 cal/d. Workout fasted at 5 AM on weekdays. Yes I drink coffee before. Work out 5d/wk, 1 active recovery day, 1 rest.

ā–«ļøYES, you can CrossFit & carnivore, CAREFULLY. Comes down to allowing yourself to fully adapt to being fat-fueled, meal timing, eating ample calories, & RECOVERY.

ā£ā£

ā–«ļøSleep=nonnegotiable. 7 hrs min. Zzyquil helps. I take it most nights because I canā€™t shut my mind off.

ā£ā£

ā–«ļøStill hit 13-15k steps/dayā£, even on rest days, drinkin a ton of water + electrolytes, fasting when Iā€™m not hungry (~18hrs avg), eating when I am.ā£ā£ No extended fasts, no snacking.

ā£

ā–«ļøI do drink socially. I donā€™t typically eat & have cocktails I choose 1 or the other. I also donā€™t like to eat late. Last meal is usually around 2 or 3p.

ā–«ļøFavorite self care is coloring, writing, walking, live music, time with friends, working out @3kings_athletics , @hotworx.fishers infrared saunas, @vitalityivbar , routine colonics treatments via Brandy Mason Colon Hydrotherapy in Carmel (I have her info), @massageheightsindy

All of these experiences are going to be different for you but I hope what Iā€™ve learned throughout my journey can help steer you in the right direction šŸ˜‰šŸ® 

Happy Friday, keep calm & carnivore onšŸ¤˜šŸ» 

Iā€™d be glad to answer any of your questions, drop them in comments or send me a DM on the gram http://www.instagram.com/lil_bit_of_fit